Boating Certification Test Navigation Rules of the Road 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A vessel is approaching a bend in a river where visibility is obstructed. What sound signal should it sound?
- Two short blasts
- One prolonged blast (Correct answer)
- Three short blasts
- One short blast
Correct answer: One prolonged blast
Rule 9 requires a vessel navigating near a bend to sound one prolonged blast to warn approaching vessels.
Question 2: At night, a vessel sees only a green light ahead. What can the operator conclude?
- Another vessel is crossing from port to starboard
- Another vessel's starboard side is visible — it may be crossing or head-on (Correct answer)
- A vessel is moving away
- A sailing vessel is approaching head-on
Correct answer: Another vessel's starboard side is visible — it may be crossing or head-on
A green light is the starboard sidelight, indicating you are seeing the other vessel's right side — it could be crossing or slightly head-on.
Question 3: Which vessel has the right-of-way over all others under the COLREGS hierarchy?
- A vessel not under command (Correct answer)
- A power-driven vessel underway
- A sailing vessel
- A seaplane on the water
Correct answer: A vessel not under command
Vessels not under command rank highest in the priority hierarchy and must be avoided by all other vessels.
Question 4: Two power-driven vessels are in a crossing situation. Vessel A is to the right of Vessel B. Which vessel must give way?
- Vessel A gives way because it is to the right
- Vessel B gives way because the other vessel is on its starboard side (Correct answer)
- Both vessels must stop
- The slower vessel gives way
Correct answer: Vessel B gives way because the other vessel is on its starboard side
In a crossing situation, the vessel that has the other on its starboard side is the give-way vessel — Vessel B must yield to Vessel A.
Question 5: What does three short blasts from a vessel mean?
- I am altering course to starboard
- I am operating in reverse (Correct answer)
- I am altering course to port
- I intend to overtake on the port side
Correct answer: I am operating in reverse
Three short blasts signal that the vessel's engines are going astern (in reverse).
Question 6: A vessel at anchor in fog must sound which signal every two minutes?
- One prolonged blast
- Two short blasts
- Rapid ringing of a bell for about 5 seconds (Correct answer)
- Three prolonged blasts
Correct answer: Rapid ringing of a bell for about 5 seconds
A vessel at anchor in restricted visibility must ring a bell rapidly for about five seconds at intervals of not more than two minutes.
Question 7: Under the Inland Rules, what light must a vessel less than 12 meters in length show when anchored at night?
- No light is required
- One all-round white light (Correct answer)
- A red and green sidelight
- A white stern light only
Correct answer: One all-round white light
Vessels under 12 meters at anchor must show one all-round white anchor light in a position where it can best be seen.
Boating Certification Test Navigation Rules of the Road 3
A vessel is approaching a bend in a river where visibility is obstructed.
What sound signal should it sound?